Understanding gerbil behavior

What's going on? Whatever it is, your gerbils want to know about it! Life's an adventure for these curious little critters, and they delight in exploring their environments. As a responsible caretaker, it's up to you to make sure your pets’ environment is safe--and, of course, filled with lots of fun things to do. Not sure what a gerbil considers fun? Read on to find out all about what makes your furry friends tick--and then some!

Gerbil behavior - socialization

Did you know that gerbils are very social, and live in family communities in the wild? That's why it's ideal if you bring home at least a pair. Two or more gerbils will keep each other company, which is especially nice if you will be away for most of the day. And when you are at home, you'll delight in watching your pets grooming each other and cuddling together for a snooze. If at all possible, get two same-sex siblings when they are young. As adult males have been known to fight, Experts recommend a pair of females for first-time gerbil parents.

Sure, your gerbils love each other, but they'll develop a bond with you, too, if you give them the chance. You'll need to give each of your pets some personal attention every day. Read our handling section for tips on taming your companions. Your busy friends have a lot of energy to burn, so it's very important that they get supervised playtime out of the cage in a safe, secure area every day.

All types of gerbils have four main hobbies

Can you name the top three gerbil pastimes? They would have to be, in no particular order, digging, chewing and hiding out. Wild gerbils create elaborate underground tunnels, and their domestic cousins will go crazy for small boxes filled with digging material. Better that, of course, than the constant scratching and digging at the bottom and sides of the cage by a gerbil who's owner failed to address his inherent needs! Don't forget a variety of safe, appropriate chew toys (your pets’ teeth grow continuously, so they really need to gnaw) and a flowerpot or cardboard box to which your gerbils can retreat for safe haven or a snooze.

It may take a while for you to figure out what your gerbils are trying to tell you. They're pretty quiet as far as companion animals go, but you may hear younger individuals squeak during play, and adults will sometimes make a few utterances while they're grooming themselves. The most common noise coming from your gerbils' cage is more likely to be the species' characteristic alarm or warning call, when an animal rhythmically thumps the ground with his back leg.

Learn to read gerbil behavior

Your pets speak loud and clear with their body language, too. Excited gerbils have been known to jump up with all four feet in the air. And when a gerbil sits up on his hind legs, he's being his naturally nosy self, simply scoping out the situation.

There are many other ways that your gerbils communicate with you--but half the fun is figuring out what it all means on your own. We will tell you that those in the know claim that when a gerbil winks, he's happy--and if you wink at him and he winks back, you've got a buddy for life!